Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.17584

    Cone of Astruni

    Date
    1776
    Creator
    Pietro Fabris (1738, Italian) , Painter
    Object type
    Library reference
    42888
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (plate): 210mm
    width (plate): 385mm
    height (page): 320mm
    width (page): 452mm
    Subject
    Content object
    nature
       > landscape
    Description
    View of a section of the cone of Astruni, painted from the entrance of the volcano. Two men stand upon a mound of strata and cattle are visible in the foreground.

    Plate 19 from Campi Phlegraei: observations on the volcanos of the two Sicilies by William Hamilton. The plate is inscribed ‘XIX’ in the top left corner.

    Written in the associated description: 'There is but one little entrance to this volcano by a Gateway. The crater is more regular and better preferred, than those of the neighbouring volcanos; it has the appearance of having been formed by an eruption of no very great antiquity; tho' we have not any account of its formation.'

    William Hamilton (1730-1803) British diplomat, archaeologist and volcanologist was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1766 on the merit of his volcanic observations. He received the Copley Medal in 1770 for his 'Account of a Journey to Mount Etna'.

    Pietro Fabris (1740-1792) was a British artist who accompanied Hamilton around Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius, and Lipari islands to document volcanic activities.
    Object history
    This book of hand-coloured plates represents part II of Campi Phlegraei. It complements part I, which consists of letters only. Both were presented to the then President of the Royal Society, Sir John Pringle (1707-1782).
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Europe
          > Italy
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